Getting Padma Vibhushan was a tearful moment, says Dilip Kumar

Monday, Dec 14, 2015,12:57 ISTBy Metrovaartha AAA

Mumbai | Legendary actor Dilip Kumar says being honoured with Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award, was an emotional moment for him. The 93-year-old thespian was presented the Padma Vibhushan by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at the actor’s residence in suburban Bandra in the presence of his wife Saira Bano. Overwhelmed today by the gesture of home minister @BJPRajnathSingh who flew to Mumbai specially to present me with the #PadmaVibhushan.

Tearful moment when the award was in my hands. How happy and proud my family was. Indeed Allah’s mercy and blessing, Kumar posted on Twitter. The announcement to honour Bollywood veterans Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan and a few others with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award was made by the government on the eve of Republic Day on January 25, 2015.

Kumar, due to ill-health, could not attend the special function held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in April when other Padma awardees were honoured by President Pranab Mukherjee. Health did not allow me to travel to Delhi to receive the award from the President.

CM @Dev_Fadnavis n Gov. Vidyasagarji too came to wish me, Kumar added. Born as Muhammad Yousuf Khan in Peshawar, Kumar made his debut as an actor in the film Jwar Bhata in 1944 produced by Bombay Talkies.

In a career spanned over six decades, he starred in films of a variety of genres such as the romantic Andaz (1949), the swashbuckling Aan (1952), the dramatic Devdas (1955), the comical Azaad (1955), the historical Mughal-e-Azam (1960) and the social Ganga Jamuna (1961).